Sermons on Impure Motives:

David's Early Reign Series

Contributed by Roshelle Brenneise on Feb 12, 2026

Here’s the thing about choices, regardless of the motivation driving them, there are often unexpected consequences.....

February 14, 2026 Here’s the thing about choices, regardless of the motivation driving them, there are often unexpected consequences. Saul was motivated by pride, fear and self-preservation – he paid a high price, but so did the nation and his family. David was also motivated by fear and ...read more

Scripture: 1 Chronicles 11:1-3

Denomination: Seventh-Day Adventist

Attending Your Own Funeral, Part One Series

Contributed by Ed Vasicek on Jun 1, 2004

Christians should not take sin lightly, but need to focus on developing their relationship to God instead. Paul offers several arguments to convince us of this. There are other motivations besides merit and fear (Law); Grace motivates us out of love, app

Attending Your Own Funeral, Part One Note: When I preached this sermon, I found out I really had two sermons (time wise); so I preached part two (labelled, "Attending Your Own Funeral Conclusion" in which I summarize my first point and then half of the second point (which is far as I got), and ...read more

Scripture: Romans 6:1-23

Denomination: Independent/Bible

Acts Of Righteousness Series

Contributed by Steve Smith on Aug 28, 2007

Jesus causes us to consider our motive in what we do and reminds us that if our inward motive from the heart is "not of God" then "not of God" is what we will get. Why do you do what you do?

INTRODUCTION Chapter 5 began the sermon on mount with definition of “Happiness”: If you will look, and search – If you really hunger and thirst – IF you truly SEEK God with all of your heart THEN your actions will show it – And The RESULT will be “Happiness” as God defines it to be! Chapter 5 ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 6:1-18

Denomination: Baptist

Compelled By The Love Of God Series

Contributed by Guy Mcgraw on Mar 11, 2012

As amazing as these truths are Paul says the most compelling thing that should motivate us in our love for Christ is what He did in giving His life for us. Greater motivation than how great heaven will be or how horrible to face judgment.

Last week we had two messages based upon the first 13 verses of chapter 5. Paul focused strongly upon the aspects of things beyond this life: the transformation of our earthly body to a building made without hands in the heavenlies, our being newly clothed in our eternal apparel and last Sunday ...read more

Scripture: 2 Corinthians 5:14-21

How To Lose Friends And Make Enemies Series

Contributed by Terry Blankenship on Mar 13, 2012

The book, How to Win Friends and Influence People by Dale Carnegie, was a best seller in the motivational market years ago. Today, people are using God's Word as a motivational marketing tool to win friends and influence people. However, Jesus lost frien

John 6:25-59 How to Lose Friends and Make Enemies Intro – With Friends Like That… Recently I had a dream. My friend Corey and I were hunting with a group of friends. We paired off in groups of two and went to our assigned location to hunt. Later that evening Corey returned alone, ...read more

Scripture: John 6:25-59

Denomination: Baptist

The Collaboration Of Love And Faith Series

Contributed by Christopher Benfield on Jun 24, 2016

Love serves as a great motivator, and our faith is motivated by love. When our love is lacking or weak, our faith will be as well. Love and faith go hand in hand, working together as we strive to serve the Lord, consistent with His will.

The Collaboration of Love and Faith 1 John 5: 1-5 Today we enter the fifth and final chapter of John’s first epistle. Consistent with previous teaching, John continues to deal with love, a subject he has spoken of at length. We have considered much concerning our love for the Lord and our ...read more

Scripture: 1 John 5:1-5

Denomination: Baptist

Ten Tips For Planting And Growing Churches - I Thes. 2:1-16

Contributed by Paul Fritz on Oct 19, 2002

Ten Tips for Planting and Growing Churches - I Thes. 2:1-16 Paul’s principles and practices of planting and growing new fellowships

Ten Tips for Planting and Growing Churches - I Thes. 2:1-16 Illustration:We can thank God for the great work He is doing through the church planting movement of the International Mission Board of the Southern Baptist convention. Recently, it was reported that 1,751 churches were started in North ...read more

Scripture: 1 Thessalonians 2:1-16

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

I Wish We'd All Been Ready Series

Contributed by Scotty Killingsworth on Sep 18, 2003

Being ready to meet the Lord is the most pressing issue in life. Readiness must become our highest priority.

This sermon was preached on Sunday morning September 21st, 2003 to the Evergreen Church by Scotty L Killingsworth The text for the message is taken from 1 Thessalonians 4 The sermon series is part of the “Ready” series The sermon title is: I wish we’d all been ready In 1971-2 I recorded a song ...read more

Scripture: 1 Thessalonians 4:1-10

Denomination: Baptist

What Do You See When You Pray? Series

Contributed by Chuck Debardeleben on Dec 18, 2007

What if you didn’t have to force yourself to pray because you were convinced that prayer unleashes the power of God?

WHAT DO YOU SEE WHEN YOU PRAY? 1 KINGS 18:38-46 Let me as you a question that might seem contradictory, “What do you see when you pray?” As a camp counselor for a summer I was given supervision of the youngest campers for the week. Ever experienced living with six and seven year olds in a cabin ...read more

Scripture: 1 Kings 18:38-46

Denomination: Presbyterian/Reformed

Loving Christ Series

Contributed by Jason Jones on Feb 3, 2011

Last in our vision 2011 series: New Riverlutions regarding the fuel for it all: a love for Christ that compels us

Text: Psalm 71:15-24, Title: New Riverlutions: Love Christ, Date/Place: NRBC, 2/6/11, AM A. Opening illustration: Finish Strong video, Lyrics to Who is like You B. Background to passage: this is a psalm of old age. David (or whoever) was remembering and praying to God in their old age to again ...read more

Scripture: Psalm 71:15-24

Denomination: Baptist

Fit To Be Tried

Contributed by Derrick Strickland on Mar 19, 2016

When in the pains of trial the question is never "Why me?" but "Why not me?"

INTRO: 1. What the Lord does here in this passage may surprise us – He invites Satan to try Job. a. Trials is not a sign of failure in your life, but success. b. It’s God’s way of saying, my servant is ‘fit to be tried.’ 2. Why did the Lord have such ...read more

Scripture: Job 1:6-12

Denomination: Pentecostal

Unanswered Prayer (Part 3) Series

Contributed by Benjamin Utomo on Mar 1, 2023

God invites us to ask Him, and we will receive (Matthew 7:7). But why does He sometimes not answer our prayers? This sermon series explains several possibilities for why God does not grant our prayers.

Prayer is an essential part of the Christian life and an excellent means of communication with our Heavenly Father. We can express our deepest longings, fears, joys, and hopes through prayer, seek God's guidance and help and intercede for others. However, sometimes it seems God is not answering ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 7:7, 1 John 5:14, James 4:3, Psalm 66:18, Isaiah 59:1-2, 1 Peter 3:7, Jonah 3:5-10, Genesis 21:14-19, 1 Kings 21:17-29, Mark 7:24-30  (view more)  (view less)

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

What Is Your Excuse?

Contributed by Charles Mallory on Jul 9, 2019

Three men and three different excuses as to why they couldn't follow Jesus. We can learn from their mistakes to live out our calling with passion and to keep from letting the world distract us from this important mission.

MANY OF YOU ARE FAMILIAR WITH “ALICE IN WONDERLAND.” IN THE MOVIE, ALICE FINDS HERSELF AT A FORK IN THE ROAD. AS SHE CONTEMPLATED HER DECISION, SHE NOTICES THAT THE CHESHIRE CAT IS UP IN THE TREE. UNDECIDED ON WHICH ROAD TO TAKE, ALICE LOOKS AT CHESHIRE THE CAT AND ASKED HIM, “WHICH ROAD DO I ...read more

Scripture: Luke 9:51-62, Matthew 7:10-14, Matthew 6:21

Denomination: Free Methodist

War Of Your Worlds Series

Contributed by Scott Maze on Jun 4, 2021

When you see yourself as an alien and an exile with your citizenship in heaven, and God as your only Sovereign, you stop drifting with the current of the day. You ponder what is good for the soul and what honors God in everything.

When is something worth nothing? Zimbabwe’s central bank will introduce a $50 billion note -- enough to buy just two loaves of bread – as a way of fighting cash shortages amid spiraling inflation. Zimbabwe is grappling with hyperinflation now officially estimated at 231 million percent, and its ...read more

Scripture: 1 Peter 2:9-12

Denomination: Baptist

A Blessing For All Nations

Contributed by Christopher Holdsworth on Mar 23, 2016

The ultimate harvest will be when "all the ends of the earth" revere God.

A BLESSING FOR ALL NATIONS. Psalm 67. The opening of this Psalm echoes the beginning of the high-priestly benediction pronounced by Aaron and his sons (Psalm 67:1; cf. Numbers 6:24-25). The Psalm also has its foundations in the blessing of all the families of the earth through Abraham and His ...read more

Scripture: Psalm 67:1-7

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational